Jessica Rasdall Speaks on Teen Drinking and Driving

Laura Gorman was killed in a drink and drive car crash that took place on February 2006. The 18-year-old girl was traveling in the car which was being driven by her best friend, Jessica Rasdall. It took 3 years for Rasdall to physically recover from the brunt of the fatal accident. In May 2009, Rasdall went to prison to serve a term of 4 years, with 2 years probation.

On Friday, June 5, ABC network’s segment, “Teens and Drinking”, Jessica Rasdall speaks to Elizabeth Vargas about that fateful night in 2006; the night that changed her life completely and took her best friend away forever. The segment is aimed at discouraging teens from reckless drinking and driving spree. Rasdall’s case is a classic example of what can go wrong when one is driving in a drunken state.

Laura Ann Gorman and Jessica Rasdall had been best friends since kindergarten and continued to be till the freshmen years. They even worked in the same local restaurant, Hooters. Both the friends shared avid interest in partying, dancing and drinking.

On the night of 2006, the two had gone to Gorman’s dorm in Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, after their shift at work was over. Soon enough they made plans to go over to a club. They set off for Ybor City at the outskirts of Tampa. They were beckoned to order drink at the bar by a man working in the club, according to Rasdall. Photographs taken in the club, which were later discovered from the wreckage of the car, show the two drinking and dancing.

They left the club at 3 a.m. and drove away in their car nonchalantly, driving down Interstate 275. Just 1 mile away from Gorman’s dorm the car lurched off the highway and hit a tree trunk. Gorman died instantly in the crash. Rasdall was rushed to the hospital to recover from her painful injuries.